How policy neglect threatens Ethiopia’s ancient cultural legacy

Ethiopia is home to some of the world’s most ancient and rich cultural heritage, from towering obelisks to centuries-old manuscripts. Yet, while the need to study, protect, and manage this heritage is urgent, the very professions meant to do so—archaeology and heritage management—are struggling to stay alive.

For many in the field, it eventually became a serious irony. In December 2019, Aksum University hosted a national conference to sound the alarm. It brought together representatives from universities, regional culture and tourism bureaus, the federal heritage authority, and civil service bureaus. Civil service representatives admitted the policy failure to embrace the demand and be responsive. Everyone agreed: these programs must be strengthened, and structural support must reach both the federal and regional levels. Without it, we risk watching our cultural treasures disappear.

Growing Slowly

Ethiopia only began offering formal education in archaeology and heritage conservation in the early 2000s. Addis Ababa University launched its MA program in 2002. Aksum and Mekelle Universities followed in 2007/08 with undergraduate degrees. Since then, newer universities like Adigrat and Wolaita Sodo have joined in. History departments also began offering heritage management courses as part of their programs.

Over 700 students have graduated from these programs—285 from Aksum University alone. They were trained to protect Ethiopia’s heritage: uncovering lost sites, preserving ancient artifacts, and sharing their discoveries with the world.

Here’s the tragedy: Ethiopia’s heritage crumbles daily, while the very experts who could save it are sidelined—jobless, or stuck in roles that ignore their training.

Untapped Talent

These graduates should have been our front-line defenders of national heritage. Instead, only a few have found work in their field. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism, along with a handful of universities, absorbed a small number before quickly reaching capacity—but most institutions listed in the curriculum as potential employers have never hired them at all.

Even more troubling, key institutions identified in the curriculum as potential employers—such as Ethiopian Airlines and the Revenue Authority, both vital to preventing the illegal export of cultural relics—have little to no awareness of heritage preservation.

This disconnect is alarming. Our heritage is in crisis, and our experts are sidelined. Many government officials still see archaeology as a luxury—irrelevant or unaffordable. That mindset is not only outdated, it’s dangerous.

Misguided Mergers

Recently, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Education introduced a new policy to merge or close university programs it deems “underperforming” or “duplicative.” The main reasons? A program is considered wasteful if too few students enroll for two years in a row, or if similar programs exist elsewhere.

This sounds reasonable on the surface—but in practice, it’s misguided. Take Tigray, for example. Universities there offer archaeology and heritage programs for good reason: the region is a treasure trove of ancient civilizations, with more than 3,000 years of documented history. But Tigray has been devastated by war. Displacement, trauma, and instability have made attending university difficult, even impossible, for many young people. It is absurd to judge a program’s relevance based on enrollment numbers in such conditions.

I speak from experience. As the former head of the Department of Archaeology and Heritage Management at Aksum University, I struggled for years to get basic resources—labs, equipment, even field access. The real issue isn’t duplication; it’s neglect. These programs weren’t wasteful. They were starved.

Historical Blindspot

Cutting or merging heritage programs in Tigray or elsewhere sends the wrong message. It risks undoing the work of previous governments who rightly saw heritage studies as essential to nation-building. The current policy feels like a retreat from that vision.

In many ways, cultural policy reflects a country’s view of itself. Egypt, for instance, has a Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, with a dedicated arm focused specifically on antiquities. Greece, under its Ministry of Culture, maintains a vertically and horizontally integrated organ for Antiquities and Cultural Heritage.

Ethiopia, with its equally vast heritage, deserves the same. Our Ministry of Culture and Tourism is overstretched. We need a dedicated body focused entirely on archaeology and antiquity—one that can build institutions, train professionals, and develop national strategies from the ground up.

To truly protect our heritage, we must build proper structures. This means local, regional, and national offices for archaeology and conservation. It means providing funding, facilities, and career paths for graduates. It also means acknowledging the complexity of our cultural landscape and organizing our heritage efforts accordingly—by time period, region, type of material, or form (tangible vs intangible).

Instead of merging heritage programs into oblivion, we should be expanding them. Article 5 of Proclamation No. 209/2000, which established the ARCCH, already provides a legal basis for regional branches. Let’s act on it. The Ethiopian Heritage Authority should have a visible and active presence at every level of government. No single model fits every region—but each deserves thoughtful planning and dedicated attention.

Beyond Graduation

Universities also need to do more than just hand out degrees. They should support post-graduate opportunities, offer research platforms, and conduct follow-up studies on graduate employment. If a country produces professionals but offers them no path forward, the result is predictable: frustration, brain drain, and wasted potential.

The current policy of merging programs must be reconsidered. Disciplines like Archaeology, Heritage Management, History, and Anthropology should not just be protected—they should be empowered. Let them stand independently, flourish, and contribute to the nation’s identity and economy.

Query or correction? Email us